Would be delighted to see FB for a few minutes but his health is so poor he doubts it would be worth the trouble for FB to visit.

+

Thanks about the otter-hound.

Transcription

Down. | Bromley. | Kent. S.E.

Dec. 15th

My dear Mr Buckland

It would give me very great pleasure to see you here on your return from Galway; but I
much fear when you hear what I am bound to say, that it will not be worth your
while. We are six miles from Bromley Station. My health is
so uncertain that I never know how I shall be & some few days I cannot speak to
any one. On my best days I dare not talk for more than 10 or
15 minutes, though I can repeat the dose two or three times. As you are medical
I may tell you that I have suffered from almost incessant vomiting for nine months,
& that has so weakened my brain, that any excitement brings on whizzing
& fainting feelings, when I cannot speak; & much of this makes me for
days afterwards very unwell; so I find by experience I must be very
cautious.

All I can say is that I shd be delighted to see you for a few
minutes, but it would not be worth all the trouble of coming here.